Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Banjul Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Banjul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $664 in Banjul, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,170 in Banjul, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,675 in Banjul, rent included.

Medellin costs about 154% more than Banjul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Banjul is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Banjul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89 COP 24.5K
$7.66 GMD 571
3.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53 COP 138.0K
$76.1 GMD 5,678
-41.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 COP 28.8K
$7.86 GMD 586
18.19%
Cappuccino
$2.90 COP 8,973
$3.76 GMD 280
-22.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 COP 5,603
$2.69 GMD 201
-32.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 4,794
$1.65 GMD 123
-6.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 COP 10.1K
$5.90 GMD 440
-44.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 COP 18.2K
$4.71 GMD 351
24.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Banjul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,277
$1.34 GMD 99.7
2.99%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 COP 7,601
$0.54 GMD 40.14
353.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,668
$1.32 GMD 98.2
14.39%
Eggs
$2.78 COP 8,612
$1.88 GMD 140
47.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 COP 28.0K
$6.02 GMD 449
50.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 COP 33.0K
$2.75 GMD 205
287.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 COP 45.3K
$5.48 GMD 409
166.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.3K
$2.07 GMD 154
91.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,267
$1.23 GMD 91.7
12.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,135
$1.76 GMD 131
30.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 COP 6,255
$1.34 GMD 99.8
50.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 COP 6,461
$0.87 GMD 65.1
140.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,052
$1.02 GMD 75.7
59.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,350
$0.25 GMD 18.76
332.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,886
$0.66 GMD 49.27
89.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03 COP 12.5K
$1.67 GMD 125
141.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 COP 41.7K
$6.45 GMD 481
108.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 4,959
$1.52 GMD 113
5.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 COP 9,292
$1.68 GMD 125
78.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Banjul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,652
$0.19 GMD 14.54
521.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 COP 247.7K
$6.47 GMD 483
1135.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 4,976
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,606
$0.65 GMD 48.76
227.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 COP 26.4K
$4.16 GMD 311
104.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,189
$1.04 GMD 77.8
29.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K COP 87.8M
$2,639 GMD 196.9K
973.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K COP 110.6M
$3,322 GMD 247.8K
974.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Banjul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 COP 469.0K
$30.59 GMD 2,282
394.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 COP 40.6K
$14.22 GMD 1,061
-7.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30 COP 100.1K
$44.38 GMD 3,311
-27.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Banjul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 COP 143.5K
$23.71 GMD 1,769
95.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 COP 53.5K
$13.65 GMD 1,018
26.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 COP 19.9K
$3.31 GMD 247
94.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Banjul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 COP 2.6M
$6.88 GMD 513
12034.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 COP 27.5M
$135 GMD 10.1K
6477.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Banjul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 COP 276.8K
$56.1 GMD 4,188
59.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 COP 171.4K
$43.59 GMD 3,252
26.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 423.2K
$98.5 GMD 7,348
38.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 338.9K
$88.7 GMD 6,614
23.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Banjul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 COP 3.0M
$101 GMD 7,505
846.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 COP 2.1M
$79.6 GMD 5,941
738.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 COP 6.3M
$219 GMD 16.3K
822.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 COP 3.6M
$133 GMD 9,936
762.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,696 COP 11.5M
$1,471 GMD 109.7K
151.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 COP 4.9M
$1,159 GMD 86.5K
36.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Banjul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 COP 1.9M
$60.6 GMD 4,523
931.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.43
15
-30.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Banjul: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $101 in Banjul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 932% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $76.0 in Banjul. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $149 in Banjul – so Banjul wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Banjul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banjul cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 154%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $996 in Banjul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banjul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Banjul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $664 in Banjul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 1136% less in Banjul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Banjul?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjul, where all-in costs run around $664, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Banjul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Banjul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banjul. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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